Brooks returns with their flagship stability model. It feels remarkably lighter thanks to a redesigned upper. It is a shoe that makes it easy to lock into a relaxed pace and offers a bountiful amount of support.

I got a chance to review the GTS 17s last year. I was a fan of them, but there was something was missing; particularly in the upper. The lacing felt cumbersome and it gave me issues.

This has been corrected tenfold and the shoe is incredibly lightweight with a modest cut in weight.

Brooks Adrenaline GTS 18 General Info

Brooks Adrenaline GTS 18 – Pair

This is a flagship stability shoe from Brooks. The GTS stands for ‘Go To Shoe’. They market the shoe as the every day shoe that does a little bit of everything.

Brooks is one of the few companies out there that only focuses on running and it shows with this model. It almost feels like they read my review from last year and set out to improve my quarrels.

First impressions were incredibly positive. The first thing I noticed was the changes in the upper. I liked the sleekness of the colors as well. The amount of colors that are out for this shoe is impressive and seems more stylish than before.

They felt beyond comfortable when I first laced them up and took them for a spin.

Brooks Adrenaline GTS 18 Sole Unit

Brooks Adrenaline GTS 18 – Sole

The midsole has Brooks’ Progressive Diagonal Rollbar and BioMoGo throughout. PDRB for short, is a combination of hardened foam and plastic that keeps the user stable and protected from over pronation.

BioMoGo is a bio degradable alternative to EVA foam. This is a great combination that kept me in check from losing control and offered a comfortable ride

The heel drop comes in at 12mm which is a little high but standard for this class of shoe. I found myself heel striking ever so slightly and lifting off on my mid foot. This was comfortable, but I did find myself over utilizing my quads at times because of this.

Brooks Adrenaline GTS 18 Upper Info

The upper has been completely redone with a streamlined mesh. The material feels more like one singular unit as opposed to multiple overlays across the foot. This is some of the most comfortable material I have worn.

Brooks Adrenaline GTS 18 – Medial Side

The toe box fits perfectly. It is not too small and it is not too roomy. I have wiggle room, but I don’t feel like I’m swimming in them. As a whole, the shoe is true to size and didn’t feel too narrow on my wider foot.

The heel is not as firm and feels softer than before. While it doesn’t give a ‘locked in’ fit, it still stayed in place and I didn’t slip around in them.

Brooks Adrenaline GTS 18 – Heel

Last year I had an issue with the lacing unit. They didn’t feel symmetrical and I struggled with getting the right fit particularly in the lacing. I like to tie my shoes tight and expect the lacing to not cut down too hard.

This was vastly improved over last year. I could lace up tight on the first try and there were no issues with hot spots

Brooks Adrenaline GTS 18 Conclusions

I was really impressed with the improvements in the upper because that was my biggest issue with last year. I was a little surprised Brooks didn’t outfit the shoe with their shiny new DNA AMP midsole, but that would have been too many changes in my eyes.

I was able to log a high amount of miles in these shoes and they are a step above the competition. I cruised in my long runs and recovery/shakeout day was a blast.

The high drop did make it difficult to go very fast and my natural stride had me going slowly than I usually do in them.

The light construction of the shoe was great, but the higher drop really had me overworking my quads at times. I chalked this up to the fact that this isn’t a shoe meant for race day or tempo workouts.

At almost 20 years, Brooks continues to offer something that is truly a ‘Go To Shoe’

We purchased a pair of Brooks Adrenaline GTS 18 from runningwarehouse using our own money. This did not influence the outcome of this review, written after running more than 50 miles in them.

Jon Ober lives and runs in Baltimore, MD. When training for his first marathon, he lost over 100 pounds and has not stopped since. He now has multiple marathons and thousands of miles under his belt and on his feet.

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Alex

Amazingly comfortable for totally flat footed 6’ 3” 218lb male with Plantar Fascitis and recent tendinitis in Achilles. My first pair of Brooks after hours of research proved worthwhile. Hiked 12k steps today + walked in them all day for past two days…not a foot ache to speak of. Didn’t need additional insole for pronation…tried on and actually caused supination so opted not to add an insole at all. Exterior sole is bit delicate (knicks from today’s hike) but that’s from me scuffing on trail rocks. I’ll be buying an all black 2nd pair soon to wear with most everything I can.

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